Rev. Bonnie Ann Fraser, BA, BEd, MEd, MDiv, Antigonish.
Bonnie died peacefully at the Aberdeen Hospital, New Glasgow, on September 25, 2022.
Born November 29, 1952, to the late James and Hazel (Stone) Fraser of Somers Road, Antigonish, Bonnie grew up farming and it remained one of her passions in life. A graduate of Acadia University (1973) with a BA and B.Ed, she started working as a teacher in Alberton, PE and would return to Somers Road to farm during summer vacations. Teaching was also something Bonnie loved very much.
Bonnie eventually moved back to her home province of Nova Scotia to study and graduated with a Masters in Deaf Education in 1980 from the School for the Deaf in Amherst, NS. Her career as a teacher of the deaf and hard of hearing was a role she took on earnestly. Bonnie worked for the Atlantic Provinces Special Education Authority (APSEA) and valued making meaningful impacts on the lives of her students and their families. Upon moving back to Antigonish, Bonnie started her own family, building a home on Somers Road on the farm where she grew up.
In 2007, Bonnie retired from teaching and moved to New Glasgow. Not one to sit still in retirement, Bonnie answered her call to ministry and enrolled in the Atlantic School of Theology. Bonnie completed her ordination into the United Church to Word, Sacrament, and Pastoral Care in June 2011. In July of that same year, she started ministry with the Hopewell, Eureka, East River Pastoral Charge (St. Columba and Bridgeville United Churches). In due course, a new challenge arose. In January 2019, Bonnie answered the call to the Montague Pastoral Charge, PE, and ministered to the people of Hillcrest and Sturgeon United Churches. Bonnie retired from ministry in September of 2021 when she moved to Summerside, PE.
During her retirement, when Covid relented, normal was taking on its new shape. Bonnie cherished time with grandchildren, family, and friends, bringing a move back to Nova Scotia to the horizon. In June of 2022, a sudden onset of illness from cancer made this move happen more suddenly.
Bonnie returned to New Glasgow to be close to her family who she loved with all her enormous heart. She was thankful for her long-time friend, Karen, who opened up her home to help support her journey. This act of kindness, love, and friendship allowed Karen, Laurel, and Jeffrey to be with Bonnie until the end. Bonnie found great strength in all the messages, calls, and visits from friends and family which helped her through many trying times.
Bonnie lived a fascinating life, full of love, humour, and hope. She cared immensely for humanity and had faith tomorrow could be better than today. If she thought she could help you on your journey, she would. Bonnie's faith was quietly infectious and the world is left better for it. She knew she didn't walk alone.
Bonnie is survived by her daughter, Laurel (Brad) O'Leary, and grandsons, Sam and Mason, New Glasgow, NS; son, Jeffrey (Leah) MacNeil, and grandchildren; Mylee, Quentin, and Aedan, New Germany, NS. Bonnie is also survived by brothers Bill (Janet) Fraser, NS; Colin (Mary) Fraser, AB; Paul (Sandra) Fraser, PE; sister-in-law, Donna Langille, NS; brother-in-law, Wilf Monk, ON; sisters-in-law: Jean MacNeil, Anne Walker, Patricia MacNeil and Hilda Hinks; brothers-in-law: Gerard (Marie) MacNeil, Douglas (Barbara) MacNeil and David (Susan) MacNeil; and countless extended family members.
In addition to her parents, Bonnie was predeceased by her sister, Sharon Fraser; brother, Jim Fraser; father of her children, Greg MacNeil; brothers-in-law, Bernie MacNeil, Al Walker, and Jimmy Hinks.
Visitation 2-4 and 7-9 pm Wednesday, October 5, in R.H. Porter Funeral Home, 55 Almont Ave., New Glasgow. Funeral 2 pm Thursday, October 6, in Saint James United Church, Antigonish, with Rev. Peter Smith officiating. The service was recorded. A link to the recording is below. Burial in St James United and St Pauls Anglican Cemetery. Donations in her memory may be made to Brunswick Street Mission, 2107 Brunswick St., Halifax, NS, B3K 2Y4 or Canadian Foodgrains Bank, PO Box 767, Winnipeg, MB, R3C 2L4.